Children's Health Care Delivered to America's Kids

Statement

Children's Health Care Delivered to America's Kids

After years of delay in providing health care to America's low-income children, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today supported The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, which passed on a strong bipartisan vote of 290 to 135. U.S. Rep. DeGette will attend the White House signing ceremony with President Obama later today.

This program will provide health care to 11 million children nationwide. It will preserve coverage for 84,649 children currently in the program and is expected to offer new health care coverage to 62,900 low-income children throughout Colorado. This bipartisan bill is fully paid for.

Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

"We will pass this bill today, and we will pass this bill for millions of women like Susan Molina, who are trying to work and support their children and do the right thing for them.

"Susan is a single mother in my district. Her abusive husband left her and she has struggled to work and pay for health insurance for her two children as she worked tirelessly to move from a janitor to an apartment manager position.

"In 2006 Susan's two children lost the health insurance under CHIP because her new job paid just slightly more than 200% of poverty level.

"Susan tried to work her way up to be a responsible member of society. Eventually she got her children in SCHIP and they had health care and she could work. But then, as she testified to Congress - to our committee, she lost her SCHIP coverage and felt like a failure as a mom.

"She was working, she was in school trying to get her GED, but she still had to take her kids to the emergency room when they got an ear infection.

"Frankly, madam speaker, it's about time that the most civilized country in the world gave health care coverage to all of its children."

On President Obama signing the bill:

"I look forward to joining President Obama as he signs this important piece of legislation into law. For too long, millions of low-income children were denied the opportunity for health care. I am committed to finding ways to provide and improve access to health care for children in Colorado and nationwide."

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